Ever since I saw this thread, I've wanted to make an Assault version that focussed more on striking/control and less on defending. I'd like to present Arther Vadd:
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Arther Vadd, level 11
Human, Swordmage|Warlock, Anarch of Shyr
Hybrid Talent: Swordmage Warding
Swordmage Aegis (Hybrid): Aegis of Assault
Eldritch Pact (Hybrid): Vestige Pact (Hybrid)
Eldritch Strike: Eldritch Strike Constitution
Hybrid Warlock: Hybrid Warlock Will
Versatile Expertise: Versatile Expertise (Heavy Blade)
Versatile Expertise: Versatile Expertise (Light Blade)
FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 13, Con 21, Dex 13, Int 19, Wis 11, Cha 9.
STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 16, Dex 12, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 8.
AC: 26 Fort: 23 Reflex: 22 Will: 20
HP: 84 Surges: 12 Surge Value: 21
TRAINED SKILLS
History +14, Endurance +15, Athletics +11, Arcana +14
UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +6, Bluff +4, Diplomacy +4, Dungeoneering +5, Heal +5, Insight +5, Intimidate +4, Nature +5, Perception +5, Religion +9, Stealth +6, Streetwise +4, Thievery +6
FEATS
Human: Hybrid Talent
Level 1: Versatile Expertise
Level 2: Aegis Accuracy
Level 4: Deadly Draw
Level 6: Weapon Focus (Heavy Blade)
Level 8: Warlock's Sight
Level 10: Action Surge
Level 11: Psychic Lock
POWERS
Bonus At-Will Power: Frigid Blade
Hybrid at-will 1: Eldritch Strike
Hybrid at-will 1: Eyes of the Vestige
Hybrid encounter 1: Clarion Call
Hybrid daily 1: Vestige of Mount Vaelis
Hybrid utility 2: Charm of Hearts
Hybrid encounter 3: Dimensional Vortex
Hybrid daily 5: Theft of Alacrity
Hybrid utility 6: Armathor's Step
Hybrid encounter 7: Dazing Rebuke
Hybrid daily 9: Vestige of the Onyx Queen
Hybrid utility 10: Reactive Surge
ITEMS
Adventurer's Kit, Leather Armor, Longsword
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Build Goal and Tactics
The idea behind Arther Vadd is to be essentially a ranged striker/debuffer, who can teleport into and out of melee with Aegis of Assault for mark violation punishment. Vestige Pact is taken over Infernal for a few reasons. Firstly, it provides a way of spreading Warlock's Curse without taking up your minor action (through Eyes of the Vestige), which means you can Mark a target, move, attack, and curse in the same round. It also means that you can continue to both spread your curse and mark while Charm of Hearts is being sustained, without giving up your standard action attack. Eyes of the Vestige is also the only Psychic keyword at-will attack based off Constitution available to a Swordmage|Warlock, which synergises with Psychic Lock in Paragon. Additionally, there are some good control Vestige dailies available which buff Eyes of the Vestige damage, increasing your DPR.
Eldritch Strike is another key power in this build, allowing you to replace the basic melee attack granted by Assault with a Con-based power which also grants you Curse damage. Deadly Draw means that any trigger of your Aegis of Assault will also grant you CA against the target until the end of your next turn.
A basic combat sequence of this build would go like this:
Round 1: Move into range (if needed), spend Minor action to mark the target with your Aegis, spend Standard action to attack with Eyes of the Vestige (additionally Cursing the target). It is now at -4 to attack your allies and -2 to attack you.
If the target violates your mark, you then get to teleport ajacent, smack him with an Eldritch Strike (at a +1 bonus from Aegis Accuracy), slide the target 1 square (preferably away from melee range of the ally it struck), and then sit at a comfortable +3 to hit against the target on your next turn, which will probably be a Frigid Blade attack to make sure it isn't going anywhere.
If the target doesn't violate your mark, you can either continue attacking it with Eyes or hit it with a movement-impairing Daily, while your Immediate action powers take care of protecting allies against unmarked targets.
The paragon path further strengthens your Aegis of Assault, and allows you to make an additional melee basic attack (eldritch strike) when you spend an action point, providing decent nova potential. The Action Surge feat further strengths this, allowing you to spend an action point, gain +3 to attacks, then attack with Eldritch Strike, slide the target 1 square and gain CA for +5 to attacks, make your remaining 2 attacks at a +5 bonus.
